Caleb Williams is unquestionably not only the most scrutinized player from the 2024 draft, but he is also likely the most critiqued in the league. Several iffy weeks, including a disappointing performance on the road against the Baltimore Ravens, had many ready to label him a bust.
Williams has shown, though, that he is a fighter. He rose on Sunday afternoon against the Cincinnati Bengals with a clutch performance in an insane back-and-forth contest that the Chicago Bears desperately tried to give away. Thanks to Williams, they won regardless, 47-42.
Williams has a way to go, especially with poise and accuracy. He finally has a head coach in Ben Johnson, who is making him do the work and has a clue about offense, but it is a process. Many fans lose sight of this from week to week. They were ready to run Williams out of town after mediocre performances against the New Orleans Saints and Ravens.
The Saints played hard, gritty football and didn’t go away in a game where the Bears jumped ahead by 20 points. Williams no doubt let his guard down, and his mechanics dipped. He didn’t look comfortable throughout the afternoon, and he slogged through a 15 for 26 showing with zero touchdowns and an interception. Chicago’s exceptional running game and defense carried the day.
The Bears thought they caught a break the following week, missing Lamar Jackson, but Baltimore’s defense came to play for the first time this season. Tyler Huntley did a commendable job filling in, completing 17 of 22 passes for 186 yards with a touchdown.
Williams, on the other hand, did not play praiseworthy. He airmailed passes to open receivers and made horrible decisions, especially on the game-changing interception by cornerback Nate Wiggins. Williams deserved to receive heat after his dismal performance. Many, though, seemed to lose sight of the progress he made in games like that versus the Washington Commanders when raining disdain upon Williams.
No one would have been surprised to see the matchup with the Bengals turn into a high-scoring contest. It reached levels, though, that few would have been ready for. With legions of critics calling him out during the week, Williams needed a bounce-back showing. Cincinnati figured to get a boost with the news that quarterback Joe Flacco would start after looking iffy all week.
The Bengals got a big-time enhancement from Flacco. By the time his afternoon ended, he went 31 for 47 with 470 yards, four TDs, and two INTs. Chicago’s secondary has been an injury-riddled mess all season. The Bears’ desperation led them to sign defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who brings controversy, a lot of talk, and elite coverage skills when he is focused. Against Flacco, the addition did little to slow down Cincinnati’s attack.
Williams quickly found the Bears down a score after Charlie Jones brought the opening kickoff 98 yards back to the house. In years past, especially after a miserable affair the week before, Chicago would have sunk into a pit. Add a dramatic opening like the Bengals produced, and the Bears’ ugliness would have only expanded.
Williams, though, responded with an excellent 12-play, 73-yard drive that took six minutes off the clock. He finished the deal by receiving a touchdown on one of Johnson’s gadget plays that saw wide receiver DJ Moore throw the scoring pass.
Fans should be encouraged that Johnson is taking out more of his gimmick plays. It shows that he is getting more comfortable with the offense’s progression and backs up his strong defense of Williams during the week.
The rollercoaster effect played out as the Bengals responded with a field goal, then Chicago marched down the field. Rookie running back Kyle Monangai, getting the start for injured D’Andre Swift, took advantage with several strong runs on the drive. It set the tone for the afternoon as Monangai finished with a sparkling 176 yards rushing by day’s end. Williams finished the drive with a 15-yard laser to wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, giving the Bears the lead again.
Johnson has been drilling hard into Williams to use every tool in his arsenal. Against Cincinnati, he did. Six Chicago receivers grabbed receptions, and for the first time, seemingly ever, this included tight ends.
The lead changed multiple times as the first half ended and the third quarter began. Johnson used another trick play, giving Brittain Brown a carry, which he took 22 yards for a score. One can wonder how many Bears fans realized Brown was on the roster, but Johnson made use of him, showing he can call any play at any time.
Chicago seemed to take control following the Brown touchdown, forcing a fumble and getting a field goal out of it. The Bears received a break on a Bengals missed field goal. They capitalized on the momentum with a magnificent 39-yard run by Monangai and a reverse play by Moore for a 17-yard touchdown. Excellent playcalling, coaching, and execution all flowed together in harmony as Johnson envisioned. It should only be the start.
Of course, Chicago fans know nothing ever comes easy and never to take a game as won until the final snap. Bears fans have suffered too many heartbreaks. On Sunday, Chicago threatened to top all the franchise’s worst collapses with a dreadful series of plays.
The Bears offered little resistance on a drive that ended in the blink of an eye. Flacco led Cincinnati to a score in four plays that took only 32 seconds off the clock. Everyone knew an onside kick was coming next; the success rate is minimal, and teams are drilled to be ready, get to the ball, and cover it. This, though, is the Bears. They botched the onside kick, and the Bengals recovered with plenty of time left.
What happened next? Cincinnati scored a touchdown! What else? A 14-point lead seemingly only seconds ago was flipped in the Bengals’ favor after two touchdowns, a two-point conversion, and an extra point. It is Chicago’s way to put its fans through excruciating torture, win, lose, or draw!
Without a doubt, a loss would have ranked among the Bears’ all-time worst. People who pile upon Williams overlook how he has performed well in high-pressure situations. He won games late against the Las Vegas Raiders and the Commanders with stellar late drives that got Chicago the victories. He did so again with an exceptional response to the Bears’ collapse.
Williams threw two incompletions to drive up the pressure just a bit more. He then scrambled for a first down, then performed his magic. Fans have been screaming for tight end Colston Loveland to be used. Well, he was utilized dramatically with a strike from Williams and then exceptional physical running to break free for the 58-yard go-ahead score! The Bears’ defense held up on a Hail Mary for a change, and Chicago had a heart-in-your-throat victory!
Johnson has an exceptional coaching resume, and likely his greatest work was turning around Jared Goff. The Rams were so desperate to get rid of Goff that they threw him in the deal for Matthew Stafford as a sweetener.
Johnson turned Goff into one of the game’s most deadly passers. Many forget, though, that Goff struggled well into his first season with Johnson. It takes time to learn the complicated offense and perform with precision under the exacting demands.
Williams is on a similar first-season performance as Goff. There have been exceptional games and some duds mixed in, but progression is being made. The Bengals don’t remind anyone of the 1985 Bears, yes, but Williams took a huge step in his development by utilizing all his weapons.
Making Loveland a critical component of the attack is a mission for Johnson, and he is finally guiding Williams on the path to doing so. Chicago has coaching, playmakers, and the protection to be a high-octane offense. Fans need to stay the course with Williams and reap the rewards that will come.
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